Stoke Gabriel Auxiliary Unit Patrol

Thank you for selecting information on
the Stoke Gabriel Auxiliary Unit and Operational Base. The info and images below have been supplied by
CART's Devon CIO Nina Hannaford. cartdevon@gmail.com

Research into this patrol and its training is ongoing. The information below is published from
various sources and is by no means conclusive. If information is not listed below
it does not necessarily mean the information is not out there but normally means CART researchers
have not found it yet.

If you have any information on this patrol or can help with research in this area please do
contact us.

Stoke Gabriel is a village in South Devon on the east bank of the River
Dart.

From the very first meeting in Whitehall in July 1940 the Intelligence Officer for Devon and Cornwall (named
Auxiliary Units SW Area) was Captain (later Major, then Colonel) J W Stuart Edmundson, an officer in the Royal
Engineers. He liaised with the regular army and received supplies and equipment and formed all the Patrols. He was
assisted by Lieutenant (later Captain) John “Jack” Dingley who became IO for Cornwall in 1943 though he may have
assumed the roll before that.

In November 1943 Devon and Cornwall were separated and Edmundson was succeeded in Cornwall by Captain John
Dingley and in Devon by Major W W “Bill” Harston who would remain
in command until near stand down. At the end of Harston's command he would cover “No 4 Region” being the whole of
the South West Peninsular and Wales.
The IOs were being withdrawn from around August 1944 leaving the Area and Group Commanders.

After 1941 a “grouping” system was developed where some patrols within a demographic area would train together
under more local command.

At Stand Down, Devon is registered as area 16. Stoke Gabriel is part of Group 4 along with Marldon, Brixham,
Newton Abbot and Harberton Patrols under the command of Lieutenant (later Captain) Albert J Smith and 2nd
Lieutenant (later Lieutenant) Edward J C Linscott. An earlier Lieutenant Arthur N Eversley-Green was discharged in
Aug 1943 on medical grounds.

All originally signed up as Lieutenants in “H” Company of the 10th (Torbay) Battalion Home Guard before being
recruited to Auxiliary Units

The South Devon Area Commander is Captain Cyril Wellington originally of Plympton Patrol.

The Operational Base is on PRIVATE LAND and
was accessed by kind permission of the estate manager.

The OB is on the edge of East Wood below Sandridge Barton on the east bank of the River Dart, downriver from Stoke Gabriel.

It appears that some attempt has been made, post war, to dismantle the Operational Base though it may have
collapsed naturally with the progression of time. Far too many ventilation pipes are intact and in situ for it to
have been blown up and the depression in the ground is far too evident for it to have been filled in.

Ventilation Pipe still in situ at what would have been ceiling height.

Ventilation pipe in situ showing the channel dug for it to be placed in.

Though overgrown with Ivy and decades of mulch from the trees, a clear outline of the Operational Base can be
mapped out, at least 10 feet down into the bedrock.

A lack of in-fill behind the remaining wall structure seems to indicate that the original pit was quarried or at
least finished by hand to exactly the correct size and design.

The distinct layers of construction can be seen in the far end wall of the main chamber and this seems to
suggest the base was maybe built by the patrol and may have been altered or added to when construction and
materials became more standardised.

The far end wall of the main chamber of the OB showing construction and ventilation
pipes.

A framework made of 4” X 4” timber was constructed around the sides of the quarried out area. This was then clad
with 4” X 1” timber to create a “wooden hut” structure.

This was then internally lagged with chicken wire and then roofing felt (or possibly damp proof course, though
no joins can be seen).

Screws used to build structure.

The more standard construction material of the corrugated iron “Elephant shelter” was then placed inside. No
evidence remains of any concrete blocks being used.

Showing the different layers of construction finalising with the iron “Elephant shelter” on
top.

The OB remains show the original structure consisted of a drop down shaft, lined with corrugated iron, leading
to a small “entrance” chamber which had a small (approximate 4ft x 3ft) alcove off to the left as seen in the
picture which is looking down into the side alcove.

Diagram of OB (Not to scale)

Looking into the small side alcove with the entrance shaft on the left.

Metal lined entrance shaft

After this the main chamber of the OB opens out to an area of around 17ft x 15ft with (looking from the
entrance shaft) a larger alcove to the right with various ventilation pipes still in situ and the escape tunnel
leading off to the left.

Main body of OB with back to escape tunnel

The escape tunnel exits from the main chamber, runs downhill 33 feet and seems to turn a right angle and continue for another 7 feet before terminating near a path and gateway.

It appears to have been constructed in a similar way to the main chamber. Being 4 feet wide,corrugated iron lines the sides and the presence of 4 inch screws indicates a wooden frame was used for the structure.

Escape Tunnel running from main chamber

The right angle turn in the escape tunnel.

The length of the tunnel was covered with stones which would have been the spoil from the excavation of the main chamber.

Orientation of OB: South to North with escape tunnel branching off main area to East.

Observation Post: Currently unknown. The location of the OB, close to and above the River Dart,
would suggest the best location for a observation post would actually be on lower ground, closer to the River
edge.

The wood continues down the river bank, almost to the waters edge, so they could have good visibility up and
down the River whilst still well concealed by trees.

View from the River Dart up to the OB.

Other physical remains nearby: During the preparations for D-Day, Allied forces were based in
the nearby fields. Many trees, only yards from the OB, have military arborglyph (graffiti) carved by American
personnel.

As there are few important road or rail links close to Stoke Gabriel it is assumed that the most obvious target
would have been traffic on the strategically important River Dart.

Looking upriver from just below the OB

Currently unknown

Unknown, but it is assumed that they had the standard weapons and explosives issued to all patrols.

Like Philliegh Patrol on the River Fal in Cornwall there is a
thought that due to Stoke Gabriel's location next to the extremely strategically important River Dart they may have
been issued with Limpet Mines.

Sgt. Alf King was a transport diver and lived next door to Alf Tucker. He was related, by marriage, to Edwin Potham.
Cpl. Jimmo Collings was employed as a horseman on Whitehill Farm, the last person to have that roll as tractors took over. He was a cousin of Francis Chubb and related through marriage to Fred Hodge.

Jimmo Collings

Jimmo Collings, last horseman on Whitehill Farm.

Fred Hodge lived at Sandridge Cottage, near to the OB site. He worked as a timber worker carrying out work for the Merchant Navy.

Charles Kiff was a gardener at Sandridge Park where the OB was built.

Alf Tucker was a carpenter and farm help during the war and was a next door neighbour to Sgt. Alf King.

Sylvia (nee Tucker) knew her Dad was in the Unit and was aware of where the base was
but remembers very little. On her fathers death, when cleaning out the house her husband did come across and couple
of hand grenades which they took around to the house of the local policeman.

Bob Scadding was a great friend of Reg Baker who did say he was in the Unit but would
never talk any further about it.

Reg was employed on a sand barge involved with sand dredging so would have been at home on the river.

Edwin Potham was a farm worker.

Just downstream from the OB was another wartime clandestine operation. The 15th Motor
Gunboat Flotilla of the Royal Navy used to lie midstream in the River Dart alongside an old paddle steamer,
“Westward-Ho!”.
This flotilla carried out clandestine operations from the Dart to Northern Brittany from 1942 to 1944. Working
closely with the French Resistance, it landed or brought back many British and Allied agents supporting
intelligence and escape networks and SOE (Special Operations Executive)

Militärgeographische Angaben über England (image 20)

In 1941 the Nazis produced a folder containing maps and booklets that were intended to be used as military
intelligence documents for invasion.

In preparing for the invasion a vast amount of information, including maps and photographs, was assembled
by the German military which resulted in the production of a series of military/geographical assessments, showing
what might be found by those arriving.

There are two pictures of the River Dart, one an aerial view with the caption of “a harbour of refuge” and
the one above taken from the east bank looking up towards Stoke Gabriel.